-To review the anatomy and the sonographic appearance of the normal thyroid gland. -To describe the sonographic broad spectrum of autoimmune thyroiditis, emphasizing on a key finding for correct diagnosis: perithyroidal lymph nodes.

- Normal thyroid anatomy The thyroid is a gland located anteriorly in the lower neck, in the infrahyoid region, overlying the trachea and inferiorly to the sternothyroid and sternohyoid muscles, extending from the level of the fifth cervical vertebra down to the fist thoracic. [1] It is formed by 2 lateral lobes located on both sides of the trachea, connected by a median isthmus,Fig. 1 The arterial supply to the thyroid gland comes from the superior thyroid artery, which is the first anterior branch of...

Thyroid ultrasounds of 150 patients with thyroiditis, diagnosed by FNA, were revised. The following variables were described: the main sonographic patterns and the presence and location of perithyroidal lymph nodes. - Ultrasound technique The patients were examined in the supine position, with the head in a medium extension, and the base of the neck uncovered. If hyperextension of the neck was required, the patient was placed with a pillow underneath the shoulders. To obtain a good resolution, a high-frequency (10-15 MHz) linear transducer was used....

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a frequent pathology with a wide ultrasound spectrum of appearances that can simulate other thyroid diseases. As a consequence, this disease could be called "the great simulator". Its sonographic patterns are very varied and it is not uncommon in our daily practice to find radiology reports of undetermined thyroid nodule or multinodular goiter which actually correspond to thyroiditis, leading to perform unnecessary invasive tests. The presence of uni or bilateral, single or multiple adenopathies in the infrathyroid and Delphian node regions is...

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